Baltimore County Public Schools
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Draft a Plan (Step Descriptions)
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127

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State Law

Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Towson, MD 21204 Baltimore County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 9.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 69.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated April 17, 2026
Maryland State Law

There is no state statute regulating released time for religious instruction, federal rulings still apply. "No-Statute" states function in theory the same way as "May-Law" states. School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

States with no statute for released time religious instruction are treated like "may" states. Released time programs would need to request approval from the local school board. School districts should not allow a released time program to operate in the district without a specific released time policy.

The federal case laws that mandate how released time functions should be followed. Zorach vs Clauson states:

School districts in states without a statute mandating a released time policy can choose not to allow released time or to coordinate with religious organizations seeking to remove students from school during the school day.

School districts should always have a policy indicating whether they coordinate with released-time religious instruction programs. Not having a policy at all and leaving it up to the released time program should never be the operating standard. This will open the district up to misinterpretation of its intent.

It is suggested that parents approach the school board and request that a released time religious instruction policy be implemented, even before a religious program approaches the district.

This does not encompass all legal requirements, and other legal opinions may exist. Please use this as a guide only.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (177)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Battle Grove ElementaryStep 5 Draft a Plan 190
Arbutus ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Arbutus MiddleStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Bedford ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Berkshire ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Carney ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Carroll Manor ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Catonsville ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Chesapeake Terrace ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Cockeysville MiddleStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Dulaney HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Dundalk ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Dundalk HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Dundalk MiddleStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Golden Ring MiddleStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Harford Hills ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Hereford HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Logan ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Mays Chapel ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Parkville HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Perry Hall HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Prettyboy ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Randallstown HighStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Sandy Plains ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Stoneleigh ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Warren ElementaryStep 5 Collect 50 Signatures 190
Baltimore Highlands ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Battle Monument SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
BCDC Educational CenterStep 5 No Progress 190
Bear Creek ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Campfield Early Childhood Center No Progress
Catonsville Center for Alternative StudiesStep 5 No Progress 190
Catonsville HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Catonsville MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Cedarmere ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Central EDLP at Loch Raven High SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Chadwick ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Chapel Hill ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Charlesmont ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Chase ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Chatsworth SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Chesapeake HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Church Lane ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Colgate ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional MagnetStep 5 No Progress 190
Crossroads CenterStep 5 No Progress 190
Deep Creek ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Deep Creek MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Deer Park ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Deer Park Middle Magnet SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Dogwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Dumbarton MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Eastern Technical High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 27
Edgemere ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Edmondson Heights ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Elmwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Essex ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Featherbed Lane ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Fifth District ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Fort Garrison ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Franklin ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Franklin HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Franklin MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Fullerton ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
General John Stricker MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
George W. Carver Center for Arts & TechnologyStep 5 No Progress 190
Glenmar ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Glyndon ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Grange ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Gunpowder ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Halethorpe ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Halstead AcademyStep 5 No Progress 190
Hampton ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Hawthorne ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Hebbville ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Hereford MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Hernwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Hillcrest ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Holabird MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Home Assignments-ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Home Assignments-SecondaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Honeygo ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Jacksonville ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Johnnycake ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Joppa View ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Kenwood HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Kingsville ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Lansdowne ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Lansdowne HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Lansdowne MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Loch Raven HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Loch Raven Technical AcademyStep 1 No Progress 26
Lutherville LaboratoryStep 5 No Progress 190
Lyons Mill ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Maiden Choice SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Mars Estates ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Martin Boulevard ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Mccormick ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Meadowood Education CenterStep 5 No Progress 190
Middle River MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Middleborough ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Middlesex ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Milbrook ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Milford Mill AcademyStep 5 No Progress 190
New Town ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
New Town HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Northeast EDLP at Parkville High SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Northwest Academy Of Health SciencesStep 5 No Progress 190
Northwest EDLP at Milford Mill AcademyStep 5 No Progress 190
Norwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Oakleigh ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Oliver Beach ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Orems ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Overlea HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Owings Mills ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Owings Mills HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Padonia International ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Parkville MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Patapsco High And Center For ArtsStep 5 No Progress 190
Perry Hall ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Perry Hall MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Pikesville HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Pikesville MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Pine Grove ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Pine Grove MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Pinewood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Pleasant Plains ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Pot Spring ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Powhatan ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Randallstown ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Red House Run ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Reisterstown ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Relay ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Riderwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Ridge/Ruxton SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Ridgely MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Riverview ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Rodgers Forge ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Rosedale CenterStep 5 No Progress 190
Sandalwood ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Scotts Branch ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Seneca ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Seven Oaks ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Seventh District ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Shady Spring ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Sollers Point Technical High SchoolStep 5 No Progress 127
Southeast EDLP at Dundalk High SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Southwest AcademyStep 5 No Progress 190
Southwest EDLP at Woodlawn High SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Sparks ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Sparrows Point HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Sparrows Point MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Stemmers Run MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Sudbrook Magnet MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Summit Park ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Sussex ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Timber Grove ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Timonium ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Towson HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Victory Villa ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Villa Cresta ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Vincent Farm ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Watershed Public Charter No Progress
Wellwood International SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
West Towson ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Westchester ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Western School of TechnologyStep 5 No Progress 190
Westowne ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
White Oak SchoolStep 5 No Progress 190
Winand ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Windsor Mill MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Winfield ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Woodbridge ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Woodholme ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
Woodlawn HighStep 5 No Progress 190
Woodlawn MiddleStep 5 No Progress 190
Woodmoor ElementaryStep 5 No Progress 190
167 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 5
Draft a Plan
127
April 17, 2026
 
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